All Grown Up - With A Bit Of Rock Mafia

Okay, you all know that I grew up in a super small town and it just happens to be the same small town as this guy:

Via

Kevin Zegers

We actually go to the same Catholic church and was my project partner in Grade 10 - when he was there (I forget which class). 

Anyways, long story short, I have watched a few of his movies (Airbud, etc.) and I have seen him on the odd TV show. It has probably been 2 years since I have seen him in person and on TV to be honest. And then I was getting caught up on some blogs and saw this:

And it reminded me of my youth!!

Did you grown up around anyone "famous"?

Oh Ya We Did....

Sorry about the post lackage on Friday... sometimes life gets too busy for blogging! Also, sometimes the weather takes away your internet and prevents you from blogging or makes you blog later than you choose to.... But fear not, I am back with another edition of:

So Friday - M worked on mudding the closet and then we headed to his ball game - which they lost by 1... but they had no umpire and it should have been tied.... just sayin'.

Saturday morning was started early with a call from Mike's Dad saying he didn't have to work today, so M came back to bed and then was awaken again shortly by his pager for a Co2 alarm going off. I rolled out of bed around 9:00. M sanded the walls and applied the next coat of mudding. He then informed me that he was going to take me on a date to see Bridemaids that night. I knew that evening plans would not work with our painting schedule, so I agreed to the date, but decided to leave in 20 minutes for it instead. Since the mud had to dry, we decided to take advantage of that time and got ready quickly and headed to town.

And this is what we wore:

(excuse the renovation junk in the background and my lack of hair style... got ready in 5 minutes)

Oh ya we did:

His shirt actually says game over...

and we saw:

source

It was pretty good, with a touch of gross, but overall funny. I will also mention that we were running late and missed the previews, which I was fine with because I don't care to watch them, but M loves that part of any movie. We quickly grabbed snacks and a drink and headed into theatre, sat down and my phone started to pocket dial on speaker, I ended up spilling half the bag of my popcorn all because it was pocket dialing my freakin' voicemail.... oppps!!!

After the movie, we followed tradition and grabbed some Dairy Queen... mmhmmm rolo blizzard for me and chocolate dipped waffle cone with vanilla ice cream for M please!

We came home, M cut the grass before MORE rain came and boy did it come. We got the closet primed and ready for paint on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning we put on the first coat of paint, which we already had from our bathroom cupboards, thinking we had enough, which of course we didn't. So off to Home Depot again to get another quart of Russian White paint, and some other things we needed as well for the flooring. We had lunch out and grabbed a few groceries and headed back home to get the 2nd coat of paint on. Thanks to the muggy weather, it wasn't quite ready, so M put the closet door up, and got the light ready to hang. By the time that was all done, we put the 2nd coat on quickly, put up the light and down went the floors. Just in time for a massive thunderstorm (which took my internet out). We were yet again supposed to play ball last night, but due to the weather again, we were cancelled. So you have read that correctly, I have not played ball once yet this season!  M and I managed to get the closet rods and shelving up and in place for me to fill today! I have been waiting for this day for a LONG time!!

Pictures will be coming soon of our new master closet!!! I am sooo happy to have it, let me tell you that much!! Now I might be able to get my household back into working order, aside from the basement, which is full of the office furniture!!

So can you guess what I am doing today? Did you guess filling my closet? You are correct!!!

Oh and be sure to pop by Tara's blog today and check out my guest post!!!

The Simple Things In Life

So I have decided to try a new link up with Jesslyn. It is a link up to explore the things in life that either go unnoticed or are taken for granted. You can explore the simple joys, the small things that get us by. It can be pictures, quotes, personal things, etc. Whatever you would like.

So with that being said, let's get started!!

 ♥ joining pinterest to gather inspiration for various aspects of my life. You can find me HERE.

 ♥ seeing a beautiful fawn this morning on my way to work grazing and then frolicking around. Soo sweet.

 ♥ this quote still hits home right now:

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
-- Author Unknown

♥ waking up to Jazzy purring and Lux snuggles.


♥ The Canine Commandments:



♥ living each day filled with love and laughter, even when times are rough, finding away to smile.

♥ stopping to smell the lilac bushes in full bloom brings an instant smile to my face, so calming and relaxing!


♥

What are the simple things you are appreciating today?

Little Love on Wednesday!

Head on over to Jamie's blog to see what everyone else is loving too!!

• I love the weather we are getting. I feel bad admitting that after watching the news and seeing the devastation that Missouri has taken, as well as Oklahoma and Alabama before that. I praying for all of those people, as I simply could not imagine...

• I am loving the smell of the lilac trees blooming everywhere. I can't help but to stop, smell them and smile!! I can't wait to wake up that smell... hurry up lilac tree in front of my bedroom window!!

• I am loving this man like crazy, as well as this picture:

Photo taken by Blair Gable

• I am loving that we are supposed to play baseball tonight!!! First game of the season (because last week was cancelled)!!!

Now, I will be honest about a few things that I am NOT loving: 

• I am NOT loving the fact that I still have not watched the Bachelorette.
• I am not loving that Chelsea on DWTS got 3rd place... she deserved 2nd at least... she was WAAAY better than Kirstie Allan, but I am not terribly torn up that Hines Ward won, he was good too, but part of me still thinks Chelsea was a better dancer, with not as big of a fan base as the other too. The talent portion did not matter in the end once again, just the fan support.
• I am not loving having clothes all over my house... hurry up closet renovation!!! M is doing the best he can at getting it done, but it doesn't help that he is ion busy season with work right now and our life is only getting busier as summer approaches!! The great room/kitchen plans will be put on hold until winter!!

Topics For Tuesday: Raccoons, TV, Weekend, Fires, Dresses....

I am back!! In Canada we had a long weekend, hence the lack of blogging yesterday, but fear not, I did not take a complete blogging hiatus, just a long weekend!! So we will get caught up without the Manic Monday post, but it will just give us more topics for Tuesday!!

• I have not watched The Bachlorette yet, or the Billboards, or Quints by Surprise... I got home to late and had to get up too early! I will get caught up soon!
• I did watch Dancing With The Stars and well I think I want Chelsea & Mark to win, but I really like Hines and Kym... tough call, but either way I will be happy, as long as Kirstie Allen doesn't win. Looking forward to watching that tonight!!
• I went shopping in Michigan yesterday and had a blast with my sister!! 
• I FOUND MATERIAL FOR MY CURTAINS IN THE MUDROOM!!! More on this to come!!
• I also surprised Mike with 2 purchases just for him... I bought him: 

via hobbylobby.com

• along with a sign that says "real hero's don't wear capes" and has the fire emblem behind it!! Soo cute!! And he loves it! But what he was really surprised with was the fact that I have decided to design the office all about him!!! Yup, my girly instincts have let go! I can't wait to get the room finished for him! Just another way to show him how proud of him I really am! He got pretty excited and asked if he could even put his fire helmet on the wall!
• Friday night M had baseball and they were getting their butts kicked, however they pulled off the win and M hit the last home run!!! I love watching M play baseball and the girl time on the bench is pretty fun too :)
• That night M got a house fire page at 3:00 AM. He told me to listen to my scanner just in case I had call his Dad to tell him he would be late for work! So I managed to doze off a bit, until I heard fireman transported to the hospital and then was wide awake from that point on, hoping everything was okay and that no one was severely injured! M got back just in time for work, poor guy was exhausted, and updated me on the fireman down, which was a guy from another department, luckily just broke his arm! Turns out the house was a "city" firefighters house and he was home with his family and they all managed to get out okay! Praying for this family, as they lost everything in the fire! Luckily items are replaceable, but lives are not!!
• Saturday afternoon, I went and picked up the purple dress and salad kits for our dinner plans with J and S. The dress is a no go.. looks good, but not quite long enough! So I have vetoed the long dress idea, it is just too hard when you are tall... I have ordered a back up plan, just hoping it is not too short:



via sears.ca

• M managed to grab about a 45 minute nap before we headed to J and S's for dinner!! We had a great time visiting, the dogs had fun with their black lab Jayda and we got to see baby N! She is getting sooo big!!
• Oh and the world did NOT end!! Just sayin'. Whoever believed that it would must be relieved!!
• After visiting with J and S, we popped by M and J's for a bonfire!!
• Sunday I finished the first coat of paint in the office and M worked away on the closet! We have an entry to the closet from our bedroom now!! The drywall is up!! We are making progress!!
• This morning as I was leaving for an appointment, I was locking up the door and turned to walk to my car and had a mini panic attack... there was a raccoon just standing there staring at me. So I told it to go away, which obviously did not work and it walked toward me and sat down. So I put all of my things down and clapped my hands to try to scare it, tried stomping my feet, nothing... the damn thing just sat there and stared at me. It was a mama raccoon and didn't look so great, but I don't know that it was rabid. So I finally yelled at it and it walked over to car and stood there and stared at me. What a stubborn critter.. it is broad daylight out and they are not supposed to like humans, but this thing was not afraid of me! So I finally kept talking to it and screaming at it until it went over to my neighbours driveway (which is only like 4 feet further away) and I walked around my car and hopped in quickly! I called M and told him he needed to search our property for babies. He also informed me that there was a dead raccoon on the road a little further down from our house. Maybe she was heart broken... poor thing! I am sure my neighbours think I am crazy.. because I am sure it looked like I was talking/screaming to myself and if they could see me clapping and stomping my feet at the same time... I probably looked like a hot mess!! Hahaha!
• I can't believe those storms in Missouri!!! Praying for all of those injured/uprooted in the area, as well as those who have lost family/friends down there!! Such a devastation!!!

Fill In The Blank Friday!

1.   People always tell me I look like :

My mom, although I don't see it now, obviously, but when she was my age there was a resemblance!

and my sister, but we don't really see the resemblance, but when in public together we are often asked if we are twins.... :

 If we are going to talk famous people, I always get Katie Holmes

 v.s:

 (picture is from Here)

 2.  Friends don't let friends feel alone, make an ass of themselves in public, have food in their teeth or other embarrassing moments knowingly.

 

3.  A sunny day is perfect for taking a nice walk with M and the dogs, sitting outside with a beverage, heading out on the boat or spending time with friends and family outside!!

4.  My favorite accessory is my necklace M gave me for Christmas 2 years ago and my wedding rings!!

5.  If I could afford it I would hire someone to do my renovations, so that M wouldn't be soo tired and we would have more time together, I would buy 2 new vehicles: a Ford truck for M and a Ford Flex for myself, I would have an animal shelter/rescue, etc.

 6.  The cure for boredom is  going shopping!! Or spending time with these three:

7.  I am currently "in like" with PURPLE!!! My husband of course and all my crazy critters. My new mudroom, strawberry limeade, my Lulu lemon headband, etc.

Wanna play along head over HERE!!

Have a great Friday and a fantastic long weekend!!!

That's My Thursday...

My Thursday was pretty low-key, this is what went down:

• I managed to sleep in until 9:30!!! That was pretty awesome!!
• I shuffled some laundry around and now can see part of my dining room table! I also folded some laundry today!
• I went down to the office-to-be to try to come up with a furniture layout plan. I may or may not have moved a bookshelf by myself that was too heavy, but I really needed to visualize. That usually drives M nuts, me being a visual person, but I can't help it!! I don't have a lot of options when it comes to how that room will be laid out!
• I am no longer a LuLu Lemon virgin!!! Yup I ordered myself a headband and I wore it today for the first time and OHHHH how I love it!!! I still cannot justify $100 for jogging pants, and $12 for the headband was a bit extreme, but worth it, because it stays put!
• While I was washing the walls in the new office to-be, I discovered some news that might make our office plans a little more lengthy and costly! They painted over top of wallpaper!!! Yikes. I am not too sure what our plan will be, whether to just paint on it again, or take it down and start fresh. Can we say DILEMMA!?!?
• I ordered some dresses online today from Sears! Yes, I ordered the purple on as previously mentioned. Not only did I order it, but it was on sale for $67!! Um HELLO... huge SALE shopper here!! I also managed to get the black dress I mentioned previously too! I also ordered:

and both of these:

both pictures from sears.ca!!

• I got started on a shower gift for J coming up June 5/11.
• I picked up paint for the office-to-be. Can't wait to see them on the walls!
• I had coffee with my Dad today.
• Much to M's liking and knowledge... because he is not home yet to see that I did this... I did the 2nd coat on the console table (that also weighs a tonne when moving it by yourself). I think after it dries, it should be able to come into the mudroom!!
• I am going to break down and order ProActiv I think... my skin has been freaking out for too long and nothing seems to be working... any suggestions?
• I pre-ordered a new laundry sink today for only $15!!! Since we are going to keep a sink in the office-to-be, I said we would at least need a new one and it would all have to be cased in, so it at least looks better and M agreed, then I found the deal and made it happen! I am sure that is why M keeps me around... I have fantastic money-saving/frugal ways!! haha!
• Today has been super-dooper gloomy and then around 3:00 the sun popped out!!

What was your Thursday like!?

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} do you watch the history channel? if so, what’s your favorite program?Nope, but Mike does!!
 {two} what is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?I like to sleep in and go shopping! 

{three} what does your dream house look like?I love farm houses, but with a touch of modern elements, yet rustic... hard to explain!
 {four} what state were you born in?Um... I was not born in a state!! I was born in the PROVINCE of Ontario!!! Which would obviously make me Canadian!!!

 

{five} do you have a change jar? if so, what do you use it for when it gets full?We have a money bowl on top of fridge for our change. We will use it if we need to run to the variety store, or sometimes I take some change out for breakfast in the morning if I don't have enough in my car. {six} what’s the first website you look at when you get on the computer?Does this count my homepage? Because my homepage is the weather network... go ahead laugh it up, but I just have to be able to know what the weather is going to be! Then I hit up my blog, then facebook, then email!

 

{seven} what is your favorite breakfast?To be honest, I am not really breakfast person, but I like egg mcmuffins, but they don't have to be from McDonald's, I just don't know what else to call them! I also love chocolate in the morning - cake, brownies, donut, cookies, etc.
 {eight} what’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken?I think my honeymoon (#2) to Dominican would be the most memorable because that was M and I's first time traveling together and it was awesome!
 {nine} do you prefer your coffee black or with cream/milk/sugar?Guess what?! I don't drink coffee, or tea, unless it is sweet tea, or iced tea as we call it here in Canada! I am not a big caffeine advocate! I don't really drink much that contains it! {ten} have you ever done a professional photo shoot?Hmmm.. define professional, because our engagement photos were done at the Walmart portrait studio - BIG MISTAKE!! Our wedding was done professionally - AMAZING and I would love to do another photo shoot!! *I also like doing photo shoots for others*
Head on over here to link up!

What I Am Loving

Pop on over to Jamie's blog to see what everyone else is loving too!!

• I am loving my new mudroom soo far, although it is pretty empty, I am loving having main floor laundry!!! Did you miss the sneak peak? Check it out here!!

• I am loving my man for making all these renovations on the go happen!! Although I try to help where I can, most of them are all him!!! He is just getting handier and handier... I joke with him that now I have no choice but to keep him around!! haha!

• I love that we have come up with a plan for the new office, which was the old laundry room!! I am hopefully going to start painting tomorrow!!! Yes, I really do have 3 rooms in renovations on the go.... but the mudroom is almost done, the  master closet is well on its way and M need his office space. Right now all the office furniture is in the rec room and my closet is in my dining room... we are multi-tasking!! I am hoping that after I paint the office, M can do the floor while I paint the closet! Team work!!

• I will be honest, I am not loving the rainy week we have had and are going to continue to have!! Although it wouldn't be May 24 without rain!

• I attempted to do the "beach waves" with my hair this morning as seen on Katie's blog - with a complete tutorial:

and I will be honest... I think there must be a better way! My hair does look wavy, but it took me more than 30 minutes to do... and looks only a touch more defined than scrunching it! Maybe that is how it is supposed to look, but it just took longer than expected!! I really just want loose curls!

• I am loving all the sewing I managed to get done on Monday!! Now I just have to figure out how to make ruffles, the tutorial I was following called it a basting stitch... whatever that is!! (I will find out) Here is a sneak peak on some of the stuff I made:

Burp cloth

Breastfeeding cover... it needs the ruffles...

That is all I can think of today!!! I hope everyone is having a great day and if you have any tips about hair curling techniques, let me know!!! Or is anyone knows how to do a "basting stitch"... lol!

Check this out too!!

May Flowers

May Flowers

Maybe this year I will get around to taking scenic photos!!!

Oh and I wish these grew in my garden... or in Canada...

Reflection 5 - What v.s. Who

I've learned- 

that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

Let's be honest, this one is a tough one!

Only because we are all constantly filling our lives up with THINGS. There will always be a better product coming out, we will always have the urge to upgrade! I am bad for it, just as I am sure more that 50% of us are!! But when it comes down to what really matters... it is who we have in our lives.

We would not be who we are today, if it were not for the people around us, our parents, our friends, our significant others, our children, our pets, etc. It is these people that mold us and make us who we are today and constantly challenge us to change for the better! Stuff/things cannot do this.

As frustrating as the people in our lives can be at some point, they have meaning and a place, whether it be a friendship gone bad, losing touch with a loved one/friend, death, fights with family/friends, etc., we learn from these things, these people. 

Items don't make us or create us. 

In the end, an object or material is not going matter! You cannot buy happiness, true happiness that is (unless you are buying a pet). As much as a good deal will make me happy, it will not last!

With that being said and understood by myself, I will continue to buy things that I like. I will continue to love the people in my life and I will continue to learn and grow because of these people in my life! I will continue to meet new people and try new things. I will become person that I strive to be!

Guest Blogger Today!!

I have been humming and hawing for quite a while about how to incorporate a guest blogger onto my blog and I have finally figured it out. Instead of being completely random, I have decided that I will approach the people who have blogs that I LOVE!!! Because if I love them, then CLEARLY you will too... right? RIGHT!!

So let's get this show on the road! Let me introduce you to Alison!!

I absolutely LOVE her blog! You can call me a religious reader of her blog!! So what makes Alison soo special? Well she just happens to have a cute dog, I was going to say the cutest, but let's be honest, my dogs would get jealous! But Cruz is definitely just as cute as mine!! Alison is a CANADIAN, just like me, although we live provinces apart! She is married to this good-looking' guy named Justin and I am sure that one day they will make beautiful babies, because they both are TOO good-lookin'!

So, let's move on to what Alison has to say! I asked her to introduce herself. just in case my introduction didn't sum enough up. (I personally think it covers the important parts..)

Hello Life As I Know It readers! Ashley asked me to guest "about me" post and I am was super excited to be here!

Ashley and I are both Canadian girls and everyone loves a Canadian right!

Well if you don't "know" me already, my name is Alison and I blog over at The Life & Times of Alison & Justin.

If I am being totally honest the title of our blog should be The Life & Times of Cruz and her crew though because our (almost 2 year old) yellow lab stole our hearts the minute we met her so I do a lot of posting about her and her only :). We adore her and she really makes our lives together complete. Well, almost complete - she has been asking for a sibling for a while now...a human sibling that is. Just saying!

 

Alright, the low down on ME! I work for a private school for students ages 3-18 who are on the autism spectrum or who have other developmental disorders. I teach Life Skills to the senior class and work in the office. I am fortunate to say I honestly love my job. The students make my job less of a job. They crack me up, warm my heart and keep me thinking and on my toes. The only thing that could make my job any better was if Cruz could come to work with me. See obsessed much?!

My husband Justin and I will have been married 2 years as of June 27th. He is the best second half I could ask for and I am very lucky lady. I remind myself of this every single day.

He is the manager of BIM Applications for western Canada for a large Engineering company. And no I don't fully know what that means. :) But he works very hard!

When we aren't working...

I love:
Shopping
Working out
Making headbands & onesies for AW Design
Blogging
Taylor Swift

He loves:
Video games
Mountain Biking
Building stuff :)
Bike movies
Building/Renovation shows & Wild Justice! ha ha 

We love:
Walking Cruz with starbucks in hand
The lake
Mountain biking
Camping
Being with our friends & family
Vegging on the couch with a glass of wine

I recently found this quote and it is fabulous. So I will leave you with it.

 "Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."

Here are a few of Alison's posts that just happen to be my favorite. I would highly recommend checking them out... just sayin':

A Letter From Cruz - this is priceless and used to be a part of my reality. I think Cruz has a thing for shoes, just one out of the pair though it seems!!

Thumb Conundrum - this was the very first post that I read of Alison's! After this post, I had to keep reading! Don't ask me why? I love the one line " Just was like Cruz in mud puddle when they let him watch" and if you have seen the pictures of Cruz in mud puddles... it would make you laugh even harder.... sorry Alison, not that your situation was funny or anything...

Etsy Reveal - Awesome awesome stuff!! Alison enjoys sewing too, in fact we both make burp cloths and what not!!

So go ahead, let's hear how much you love her too!!!

Manic Monday with a Sneak Peak of Mudroom!!

Another weekend has passed and we got sooo much accomplished again!!! I am even going to give you a sneak peak of what we have been up to!!

But let's rewind to Friday! M came home from work and cut the lawn and wow did it ever need to be cut, while I barbecued steak! M did end up playing ball and they won!!!

Saturday morning M had to work, so I decided I would head into town to get some groceries and stop at Len's Mills and Winners!! Such a great idea!! I found some great deals! I got a large metal art of circles for the mudroom for only $12, you will see it once the full room is revealed, whenever we get it furnished, I also bought some fabrics for my projects!! M called me while I was in town because he ran out of underlay, so I picked some of that up too!!

M finished laying the floor, with only one minor interruption for a medical call, but all in all the floor is done!! While he was gone, I painted the trim/quarter round. We just need to get nosing for both doors!

Sunday M headed into town for plumbing supplies he needed and he hooked up the waste line and water lines. Mike had M cone over and helped him with the putting the trim and quarter round up and he also helped bring up the washing machine!!

I HAVE MAIN FLOOR LAUNDRY!!!! 

I just had to get that out my system!! It works well too!! Soooo the room is 90% finished, just needs some nosing around the doors and the ceiling medallion needs to be put up. It is 30% furnished... yep I am lacking on that part, but we have to buy a wardrobe and a bench and the weather is not co-operating for finishing spraying my console table! And we won't even speak about the decorating, because I have not found blinds yet... and I am still bouncing ideas around for what I want where.... this will be a lengthy process, but the hard work is done at least!

M did such an amazing job!! Here is the sneak peak I promised!! Excuse my photography, I was just trying to be quick!

I didn't bother photographing the other half of the room, as there was nothing over there! I will do a full room recap with what before pictures I don't have and the after pics!!

 Feel free to link on up below!!